Railway signal and telephone system.



No. 885,367. PATENTED APR. 21, 1908.

F. L. ODENBAOH. RAILWAY SIGNAL AND TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

I APPLICATION FILED JULY l0 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED APR. 21, 1908.

F. L. ODENBAGH- RAILWAY SIGNAL AND TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

f2 mm E E E E m g h. H u #JW m W b up 2@ 0 O e E Q Q E m NR5 i FF mw RN.3 ww E um. E H m a A Mi 4 M 127755555, QR). W QM;

UNITED STEE PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK L. ODENBACH, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHNC. POORE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

RAILWAY SIGNAL AND TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK L. ODEN- BAOH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in RailwaySignal and Telephone Systems, of, which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to means for signaling and telephoning movingtrain units and stationary points upon railways. Its primary-object isto give certain signals automatically within the operators cab of alocomotive or railway motor of any kind, at railwa crossings, and atterminal stations.

t also provides a telephone system between moving train units, andbetween moving and stationary points, and between sta-' tionary pointsupon railways. It is intended to accomplish such signaling andtelephoning only within certain predetermined limits.

Further objects are, to provide means upon moving railway units enablingthe operator of each unit to determine whether the other is behind orbefore him, and at what speed such other unit is moving; to apprise theoperator of a moving car or train of an open switch, or signal of dangerahead of him; and to adapt said means to a block system, or localsystem, wherever such system is desired.

Minor objects and applications of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description.

To these ends my invention consists in the features, arrangements andcombinations of the electrical and mechanical apparatus hereinafterdescribed and claimed, embodiments thereof being illustrateddiagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure I is adiagram showing the system as applied to two movable train units headedtoward each other upon the same railway track. Fig. II illustrates agalvanometer, or distance indicator, such as is em loyed upon themovable train units. Fig. II is a perspective view of one side, and Fig.IV is a similar view of the other side of the automatic revolving switchemployed upon locomotives or movable train units. Fig. V is a diagramillustrating the system as installed in a movable train unit, a railwayswitch, and a crossing tower or terminal station.

The reference letter a indicates the track rails of a railway whichshould be continu Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 10, 1907.

rammed April 21, 1908. Serial No. 383,080.

ground or return conductor. A trolley wire I), or othercontinuousplectrical conductor, is stretched above or alongside thetrack a and insulated from the ground.

In Fig. I, the diagram at 0 represents the ,motive as shown in Fig. V. Asource of electricity f is carried upon each movable train unit, whichma be arbattery or other generator, but a smal dynamo is preferred.Withinthe operators cab of the locomotive or car I provide a three wayswitch 7c, an automatic rotatable switch a commutator h, a galvanometerg, a switc 'm, a lamp Z, and a telephone n, which with their connectionsI will now proceed to describe.

The rotatable switch 7', as shown in Figs. III and IV, comprises acylinder of insulating material having an axial shaft 2, which should berotatably mounted .in suitable bearings and operatively connected with atrack wheel axle of the engine or car so as to be revolved by thelatter. The operative gearing betweenthe axle and the switch should bethe same in each train unit, an arranged to revolve the said switchabout once per second of time at the ordinary road speed of the car ortrain. encircles the eriphery of the c linder j, and

upon each si e of it are similar ands 4 and 5 electrically connectedtherewith, but the latter bands encircle only one half of the cylin der,the band 4 being upon one side and the band 5 upon the opposite side ofsaid c linder, as plainly shown. A metallic brus or contactor, 6 is setto ride'upon the central band 3, a similar contactor 7 rides upon theband 4, and another similar contactor 8 rides upon the band 5, as shownin Fig. I. Thus it is obvious that the brush 6 is alwa s in contact withthe metallic portion 0 the switch j, while the brushes 7 and 8 arealternately 1n and out of contact with the metallic part of-said switch.

Normally the switch is is thrown to the center, as shown, so that thegenerator f and ground a alternate. The three way switch k A metallicband 3 may also electrically connect the trolley 6 with either the brush7 or the brush 8 according as it is thrown to the one or to the other. Awire 9 leadsfrom the brush 7 to one of the upper posts of thecommutator, or reversing switch, it, and a wire 10 connects the brush 8with the other upper post of said commutator. The lower posts of thecommutator h are connected respectively through the wires 11 and 12 withthe respective poles of the electrical generator f, as shown. A wire 13connects the wire 10 with one joint of the double pole," double throwswitch m, anda wire 14 connects the other joint of said switch with theground, or return circuit which is made through the wheels of themovable train unit and through the rails of the track.

From one pole of one side of the switch m a wire 15 leads to anincandescent electric telephone to in'the usual and well known way foroperating telephones. Thus it will be seen, that when .the switch m isin the position shown the lamp Z will glow while electric current ispassing along the wires 13 and 14, but when the said switch is thrown tothe osition shown by the dotted lines the said amp will be cut out, andthe telephone n may be operated by the current passing along said wires.

I insert in the wire 13 a galvanometer, or direction indicator, g. Thismaybe of the type illustrated in Fig. 11, having a pointer 19 pivoted at20, and movable over a graduated scale 21. The said scale has its zerooint in the middle, and may be marked East at one end and West at theother, or the ends may be marked respectively North and South, or In andOut, or any way that may be preferred to indicate the direction of anapproaching train. The pointer 19 has magnets 22 and 23 pro- 'ectingeach way from it into the respective helices 24 and 25 of the wire 13,so that the said pointer will be moved to the right or to the leftaccording to the direction of the electric current following the wire13.

In Fig. V, c represents a locomotive, or train unit, equipped as indiagram 0 of Fig. I. A track switch is indicated at 0, which is providedwith an electrical make and break swi.;h as shown diagraimnatically aty). A wire 26 leads from the line conductor b to one end of the switch1), and a wire 27 leads from the other end of said switch to the trackrail (1. The electric switch p should be set to close when the trackswitch 0 is opened to a side track, and to open when the track switch isclosed to make the main track continuous.

A railway crossing is indicated at r, Fig.

m a wire 28 leads to the ground at the rail a,

having a make and break switch g therein. An electric lamp Z isconnected to the oles of one side of the switch m, and a telep one a isconnected to the 'oles of the other side of the said switch, as slgown,in the same way as upon a locomotive. In crossing towers the hueconductor 1) for each railway track is led therein and through theswitchmand the.

switch q to the ground at a. For crossings of single track railroads theline conductors b from each direction of each track should be led intothe tower, and provided respectively with switches m and q, lamp andtelephone connections, and with ground connections. The conductor 1)from each direction of oncoming trains should have its res ective lamp1, but a single telephone it may e connected, as shown, so as to beswitched into any one of the lines I) entering the tower. At a terminalstation the equipment is substantially the same as for one line bentering a crossing tower.

Bearing in mind that the fundamental idea of the system is found in thefact that two train units, or one train unit and a short circuit willconstitute a block and give a-danger signal, the operation of thesystemin its various applications may be readil traced and understood. Thelength of the lock, or distance over which signals are iven, can bedetermined by the amount 0 electric current sent out by the generators fas related to the amount of resistance in the line conductor 1).Therefore, two trains placed upon the same track within the saiddangerous distance fixed as described will automatically signal one tothe other. Open switches will give a signal upon a train within the saiddistance. A train approaching within the said distance of a crossing orterminal will signal the crossing tower or terminal station, as the casemay be; and said tower or station attendant may stop said train by asignal in the engine cab thereof. All the parties mentioned maytelephone each other. And the operators of trains are a prised of theap-. proximate location, speei and direction of movement of other trainsentering within the aforesaid fixed distance.

Referring to Fig. I, let us consider 0 a train coming 1n, and d a tramgoing out. The com mutator h and switch It of the respective trains arenormally set as shown; so that cur rent from generator f of train (1would, when the two trains approached close enough to make a circuit,pass along wire 12, commuing the said interruptions the brush 8 ridesupon the metallic part of the rotatable switch 1', which will complete acircuit from the approaching train 0 through rail a, wire 14, amp Z,indicator g, wires" 13 and 10, brush 8,

switch 7', brush 6, switch k, and trolley e to. the conductor b.

Substantially the same effect occurs upon the train 0, but the directionof current is reversed, because of the different position of thecommutator it upon the latter train.' Thus, the lamps Z glow upon hasentered the fixed limit of distance.

both trains, giving notice that another train A. normal flash of saidlamp alternating with a much stronger flash, or an almostconstant light,shows a train ahead. The galvanometer 9 will also show this by moving tothe side corresponding to the lineahead, and by indicating the increaseof current through the reduction of line resistance, it will show theapproximate speed of the ap roaching train, as will also t e rapidity oftie flashes given by the lamp when the o erator throws out the localgenerator f anc ermanently completes the circuit for the ot er train bythrowing the switch is to the head of the brush 8. By throwing theswitches in to 7, and throwing'ov'er the .switches m, it will readily beseen that any two trains on the same track within a limited distance maytelephone each other. A train may also telephone a crossing tower orterminal station 8 inthe same way, when the attendant atshas thrown overhis switch m and closed his switch q. 1

If upon a train' there is a normal flash of the lamp] intermitting witha weak'one,

there is another train in the rear. 1 The indicator 9 will also show thedirection of the other train. Then by throwing the commutator h so as tojoin the local -generator f with the generator in the rear train, anincreased flashiof lamp 1 alternating with a normal flash, and theindicator still pointing in the same direction, will con rm the firstsignal.

If a regular single flash only is observed, with no other lamp effect,it indicates that a stationary short circuit has been made with thetrain. This may be made by an open switch 0, or by a crossing tower orterminal 8,

or by any temporary danger signal which maybe made anywhere along theroad by electrically connecting the line conductor 1) with the track a.This signalmay also be made by a standing train, which latter, when itcomes to a stop, should throw out its generator f and ground its trolleye by throwing itsswitch k to 8.

The revolving switch 1', as will be understood from the diagrams,alternately sends out the local current, and runs to ground to take up asignal from an outside source. The lamp Z and galvanometer 9, it will benoticed, are not out out in grounding the trolley pole c. It will alsobe noticed that the. two generators f on locomotives in danger of aheadon collision run out in such a way as to form one; but that twolocomotives following each other will naturally set theirs against eachother, and if they are equally strong no lamp flash would result; but,since each generator is cut out and in automatically, and

since there is no danger of their synchronizing, there is always achance foreach to do its work during part of each revolution of therotatable switch Theends of the line conductor 1) may be either open orclosed. If open the in-coming train will get no signal. But if the endof b is rounded the in-coming train will get a signa as soon as it hasreduced the resistance of the line b enough to operate its lamp Z. Atcrossing towers, and at terminal stations when desired, the switches gshould be closed to ground the conductor 1), so that the guard may knowof an a proaching train. The guard may then telephone the train, or byopening the switch 9 may stop the said train, for in the latter case thelamp on the train has ceased to glow upon the opening of the switch g.

The system isadapted for .mere local use on curves, in tunnels, or atother dangerous stretches of track where any line conductor 1; may beset up and any suitable contact former e employed. And the nature of thesystem will suggest otherserviceable applications.

Ifurther point out and distinctly claim as my invention- 1. In a railwaysignal system, the combination-with a track rail, a line conductor, anda train unit providedwith an'electric generator, of a rotatable switchupon said train unit adapted to alternate the connection of said lineconductor between said generator. and said track rail, and an electricsignal device connected between said track rail and said generator,substantially as set forth.

2. In a railway signal .systemfthe combination with a track rail, a lineconductor, and a train unit provided with an electric generator, of arotatable switch upon said train unit adapted to alternate theconnection of said line conductor between said generator and said trackrail, a commutator connected between said generator and said switch, andan electric si al device connected between said track real and a switchconnection of said commutator,substantially asset forth.

3. In a railway signal system, the combination with a track rail, allnecond-uctor, and a train unit provided with an electric generator, ofa rotatable switch upon said train unit adapted to alternate theconnection of said line conductor between said generator and said trackrail, a commutator connected between said generator and said switch, andan electric signal lamp in circuit between said track rail and'saidcommutator and switch, substantially as set forth.

4'. In a railway signal system, the combination with a track rail, aline conductor, and a train unit provided with an electric generator, ofa rotatable switch upon said train unit adapted to alternate theconnection of said line conductor between said generator and said trackrail, and an electric signal lamp in circuit between said track rail andsaid gen- 'erator, substantially as set forth.

5. v In a railway signal system, the combination with a track rail, aline conductor, and a train unit provided with an electric generator, ofa rotatable switch upon said train unit adapted to alternate theconnection of said line conductor between said generator and said trackrail, and an electric signal lamp and a galvanometer in circuit betweensaid track rail and said generator, substantially'as set forth.

6. In a railway signal system, the combination with a track rail, a lineconductor, and a train unit provided with an electric generator, of arotatable switch upon said train Y unit adapted to alternate theconnection of said line conductor between said generator and said trackrail, a commutator interposed in the connections between said generatorandsaid switch, and an electric signal lamp and a galvanometer incircuit between said track rail and a switch connection of saidcommutator, substantially as set forth.

7 In a railway signal system, the combination with a line conductor, andtrain units having electric generators adapted to be connected incircuit with said line conductor, of signal devices upon said trainunits adapted to be connected intermittently and permanently in saidline conductor circuit, substantially as set forth.

8. In a railway signal system, the combination with a line conductor,and train units havin electric generators adapted to be connected incircuit with said line conductor, of signal devices upon said trainunitsadapted to be connected intermittently and permanently in said lineconductor circuit, and telephones on said train unitsarran ed to beconnected in said circuit, substantiaIly as set forth.

9. In a railway signal system, the combination with a line conductor,and an electgic generator upon a train unitadapted to be connected incircuit therewith, of a signal device upon said trainunit provided withmeans for connecting it intermittently and permanently in said lineconductor circuit, a stationprovided with a signal device in circuitwith said line conductor, and means said station for opening and closingthe said circuit substantially as set forth.

10. In a railway signal system, the combination with a line conductor,and anielectric generator upon a train unit adapted to be connected incircuit the'rewith, of a signal device upon said train unit, means forCOD".

necting said signal deviceintermittently and permanently-in said lineconductor circuit, a

track switch provided with an electrical connection in said lineconductor circuit, and

means for making and breakin 'ysaid last named connection according to te position of said trackv switch, substantially as set forth. 1

11. In a railwaysignal system, the combination with a line conductor,and an electric generator upon a train unit adapted to be connected incircuit therewith, of "a signal device upon said] train unit, means forconnecting said signal device intermittentlyand permanently in said lineconductor circuit, a

station provided with a signal device in cirgrounding the same to efiecta danger signal,

of a train unit comprisingan electric gen erator, a signal device incircuit between said generator and the, said ground, a three-way switch,a connection from said switch-to said adapted to alternate theconnection of said line conductor between said generator and saidground, and connections whereby said three-way switch may be operated toground said line conductor through said, signal device or to throw saidgenerator into the circuit between said line conductor and said signaldevice, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in the presence of twosubscribing Witnesses at Cleveland, Ohio, this 6th day ofJuly, 1907.

FREDERICK L. ODENBACH.

Witnesses:

J. 0. Poems, L. G. HoPPER.

line conductor, a power driven contactor

